EP0036021A1

EP0036021A1 - Method and apparatus for soil irrigation

Info

Publication number: EP0036021A1
Application number: EP79900508A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yasuo Tsuruta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-05-07
Filing date: 1980-11-17
Publication date: 1981-09-23
Also published as: EP0036021B1; WO1980002357A1; DE2967336D1; EP0036021A4; JPS6141530B1

Abstract

A method of continuously supplying a constant volume of water to a zone where a tree has its roots fastened into the soil, without any motor-operated means, and an apparatus for carrying out the above-mentioned method. A water tube (2) is extended downwardly from the bottom of a water-supply tank (1). Outlet parts (3), (3') of the tube (2) is opened into tanks (5), (5') in which the water level is always maintained constant. From the tanks (5),(5') is extended a water supply tube (6), the end of which is a water tube (7) disposed in an airtight casing (8). The bottom of the casing (8) is opened to the soil and fillings (9) are packed in the casing. The invention is available for irrigating fields or planters.

Description

Background of this technology.
Irrigation has been considered as one of important keys for the maintenance of races since old days. However, the majority of water irrigated, secured by hard labor, has been returned back into the soil uselessly.
Recently, the dripping methods of irrigation have been invented in foreign countries where dry regions occupy the greater part of land. However, since these inventions require the electric power and special equipment, these methods are employed rather in limited places.

Disclosure of invention.

This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for irrigation.
Namely, the purpose of this invention is to offer the method of supplying constantly the definite amount of water to roots group of plant without employing any complex equipment and equipment required for this methods.
Miscellaneous devices have been realized since old days as effectual utilization of irrigated water in order to maintain the prosperity of races.
However, in order to maintain the population which is increasing explosively day by day, the development of effectual utilization of irrigated water is now keenly urged in etinside- ration of the limited efficiency of irrigated water.
The dripping method of irrigation practically applied for the first time by Symcha Blazs in 1930 has greened many deserts and barren lands.
Hoeever, since the dripping method of irrigation requires the flow control equipment, electrical solenoid valves and timer etc, it has still problems not only troubles unavidable in such system but also the economical burdon.
This invention, on the other hand, pertains to unique and epoch making method of irrigation. Since the water supply, in case of this invention, can be performed constantly employing only the natural disposition of water using any costly and complex electrical equipment and the moisture tension of soil can be quite from change preventing the vain waste of water.
The irrigation system of this invention is explained by the example of figure 1.
The draining opening 3 and 3' of drain pipe 2, fitted to the bottom of sealed water supply tank 1 ( hereafter described simply as water supply tank ) are positioned so as to face the water surface 4 or 4' to induce the supply of water within the water supply tank 1 and the constant surface water supply tank 5 and 5^t which keep the water surface at definte position is connected with the water supply tank 7 ar 7' by flexible water supply tube 6 or 6' ( described here-after simply as tube ).
The opening of air tight casing 8 ( here-after described simply as casing ) having permeable fillers 9 which cover the water supply tank 7 is in contact with the soil.
The water within the water supply tank 7, sucked up into the filler 9, by the action of capillary phenomenon, move to the opening of casing 8 penetrating through the fillers 9 and reachs roots group region of plant 10 ( here-after described simply as roots group ) infiltrating into the soil.
Under certain circumstance, open the exhaust valve 17, to begin starting irrigation, and filling the water in full within the constant water surface tank 5 and also filling the water within the casing 8 in full, then after the air existed within fillers 9 is exhausted through exhaust valve 17, irrigation can be performed closing exhaust valve 17.
Since the casing 8 is filled with water by the operation described above, the amount of water which moves through fillers 9 can be controlled by dimension of action of siphon to arise by the head between the water level within the water . supply tank 7 and the opening section casing 8 which is in contact with the soil.
When the water within the water supply tank 7 moves into the soil being sucked into fillers9, the water level within water supply tank 7 can be maintained at definite level as the water is supplied to the water supply tank 7 from the constant water surface tank 5 through the tube 6, therefore, the amount of water which can be permeated into the soil from the opening of casing 8 moving through fillers 9 can be manitained in definite amount.
When the water within the constant water surface tank 5 is supplied into the water supplystank 7, the air enters into the water supply tank 1, flowing into the drain pipe 2 from the drain opening 3 thereby breaking the balance of head between atomospherie pressure within the water supply tank 1 against atmospheric pressure and the water and thus the water is drained to the constant water surface tank 5 from the water supply tank 1 until the drain opening 3 is hiddon under the water surface 4.
Namely, the height of water surface 4 and 4'.can be adjusted by changing the height of drain opening 3 and 3'.
In such way, by the employment of irrigating method of this invention which can soak constantly the definite amount of water directly into the soil from the opening of casing 8, the stable irrigation to roots group without least injuring the tension of moistare of soil can be achieved for the first time and at the same time, the penetrating loss of water deep into the soil and the increase of saline amount of soil to arise by the evaporation of water can be perfectly svoided.
It is noticeable that devices pertaining to irrigation even invented could not achive such operation.
The adjustment of the amonnt of water to be supplied to roots group in order to meet for the growth of plant can be controlled by the change of water surface 4 and 4' which can be performed by the change of the hight of drain opening 3 and 3'.
When the water level within the water supply tank 1 falls down by the repetition of draining to the constant water surface tank 5 and 5' from the water supply tank 1 and the buoyancy of buoy 15 decreases and the buoy 15 pressed down by the water pressure of water supply tank 11 thereby allowing water supply tank 1 from the water supply pipe 11.
Accompanying the water supply, the air accumulated within the water supply tank 1 is exhausted from the exhaust pipe 12.
At this moment, the buoy 15 is oppressed to the inlet 14 of drain pipe 2 closing the flow of water within the water supply tank 1 towards the drain pipe 2 thereby protecting the water level within the constant water surface tank 5 and 5' from useless rise.
When the water level within the water supply tank 1 reahes the top level of pressure eliminating pipe 16 by the supply of water from the water supply pipe 11, in spite of the recovery of buoyancy by pressure owing to the pressure of head of water within the drain pipe 2, the buoy 15 which had been tightly attached to the inlet 14 floats up resisting to water pressure of the water supply tank 1 by extinction of load pressure rendered by the bursting emission of water from the pressure eliminating pipe 16 recovers the air tightness of the water supply tank 1 closing the water supply pipe 11 and exhaust pipe 12. Therefore, the drain ing to the constant water surface tank5 and 5' can be performed smoothly.
n Coeiee explanation of charts.
The chart 1 is the section of this invention showing the water supply system employing the closed water supply tank.
The chart 2 shows the plane and side view of sloped farm land where the equipment of this invention is arranged.
The best arrangement for the application of this invention.
As shown in the chart 2, the water should be supplied to the water supply tank -group 1- composed of plural number of tank by the water supply pipe 11 from the large water storage tank 18. Then draining should be made to the constant water surface tank - group 5 - composed of plural number of tank by drain pipe 2 from the water supply tank 1. Then irrigation to roots group of each plant 19 should be made supplying water the casing - group 8- in which is embodied the water supply tank by the tube 6 from the constant water surface tank 5.
In such manner, employing one set of irrigation system composed of large water storage tank 18 provided as the core, quite natural and efficient irrigation for vast fatms can be made em- ploting only the natural disposition of water without using additional means such as electric power etc.
Therefore, even in deserts where conventional method of irrigation has hot beem applicable far from a fountain, harvest can be possible by the transport of water by the water supply car at times.
Since the method of this invention can perform infiltrating irrigation directly into the roots group of plants, waste of water such as evaporation and loss of water flow deep in to underground can be perfectly avoided and the water required for irrigation can be secured by the transport of water from water resources far from farms.
Potentiality for industrial application.

1. Irrigation for farms far from water resources where the underground water is not obtainable.
2. Labour saving for the cultivation of potted plants etc.
3. Water supply for plants for appreciation in rooms while a family is absent.

Claims

1. A method of irrigating the soil comprising the steps of

maintaining a constant level of water within a water supply tank.

allowing the water within said tank to ooze into the soil, and

prior to contact with the soil, passing said water through a casing containing a permeable filler material therein.

2. The water supply system of water supply tank (7) described above having singular or plural water tank (7) to which is connected the singular constant water surface tank (5) by the water supply tube (6) and the water level within tank (5) can be maintained at definite height by the supply of water.

3. The system of claim 2 including an exhaust valve (17) provided on the top of the casing (8) in which filler material (9) are embodied.

4. The constant water surface maintaining system of constant water surface tank (5.5'), described in No.2 of the range of claims in which the edges (3.3') of drain pipe (2) extended from the bottom of air tight tank (1) is inserted.

5. The system including a buoy (15) in said tank (1) and which directs water into said pipe (2), said buoy moving between an edge (13) and an opening (14) of said tank (1), and a supply pipe (11) and air exhaust pipe (12) in said tank (1).

6. The load pressure eliminating system of drain pipe (2) which works on the switching buoy (15) by the employment of pipe (16) connecting the top of air tight water supply tank (1) provide with water inlet and air exhausting system where the air accumulates with drain pipe (2).